Coronavirus thread

[SimonNZ]

Zhou Xianwang is still mayor of Wuhan, though

[SimonNZ]

Belarus crowdfunds to fight coronavirus as leader denies it exists

"The healthcare system in Belarus is being propped up by volunteers and crowdfunding campaigns as the country grapples with a coronavirus pandemic its president has been hesitant to admit exists.

Belarus has attracted international headlines for its delayed response, continuing to host Europe's only active football league, as the president, Alexander Lukashenko, dismissed the pandemic as a "psychosis".

"No one in the country will die from coronavirus," Lukashenko declared publicly earlier this week.

Meanwhile, a human rights activist and volunteer worker, Andrej Stryzhak, has cofounded the #bycovid19 group to crowdfund, acquire and deliver equipment and protective clothing to medics and other frontline personnel, one of many local initiatives by NGOs and businesses.

"Our goal is to make sure this system doesn't collapse," he said. "In many places, for instance in Vitebsk [a city in north-east Belarus], we see that there's a very difficult situation, a critical situation. There are a lot of sick people, and a lot of medics are sick."[...]

[Mandryka]

Vets would not manage Covid-19 this way

https://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/186/14/462.full

If there is anything fortunate in this ghastly experience, it is that most of the vulnerable can be readily identified, protected and kept out of the intensive care units; they are generally not the economic generators within the population. The young, fit, slim, non-smokers could be left to get on with creating the wealth that we are going to need to secure our futures, instead of being locked away waiting for the inevitable

[Mandryka]

(Dutchnews.nl)
Half a million people may have developed coronavirus antibodies

As many as 3% of people in the Netherlands may have developed antibodies against coronavirus, indicating they have some immunity against Covid-19, the public health institute RIVM said on Thursday. Blood bank operator Sanquin arrived at the figure after studying blood and plasma samples from around 7,000 donors aged between 18 and 69 during a one-week period. If the 3% figure is reflected in the general population, as many as half a million people may have developed antibodies.

Jaap van Dissel, the RIVM's head of infectious disease control, stressed that the presence of antibodies did not guarantee that a person was immune. The research into immunity is ongoing and has not yet been published in a peer reviewed journal, he told MPs during the weekly technical briefing.

++++++++++

The figure might go up the coming weeks, but it is not as high as I expected.....

Q

This came up in parliament today

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8229009/Britain-faces-TEN-waves-coronavirus-population-achieves-herd-immunity.html

Britain could suffer 40,000 deaths in first coronavirus outbreak and may be hit by up to TEN waves of the infection before the population achieves herd immunity, former World Health Organisation official warns MPs

[prémont]

According to Dansk Statistik, an official organ, there haven't been more deaths in Denmark since the first corona-death in the country 3.14.2020 than usual for the period.

Report in Danish:

https://nyheder.tv2.dk/2020-04-17-corona-ser-ikke-ud-til-at-give-flere-doedsfald-end-normalt

[MusicTurner]

1)

This came up in parliament today

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8229009/Britain-faces-TEN-waves-coronavirus-population-achieves-herd-immunity.html

Britain could suffer 40,000 deaths in first coronavirus outbreak and may be hit by up to TEN waves of the infection before the population achieves herd immunity, former World Health Organisation official warns MPs

It's difficult to establish certainties these days, as a layman; at the same time, there's the controversial leading Swedish official/scientist Tegnell, promoting their herd immunity strategy, says that glimpses of immunity among the population of Stockholm can now be seen, and that this goal will probably be reached in May
link in Swedish https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/coronaviruset/senaste-nytt-om-corona-i-sverige-folj-presstraffen/

Not all Swedish experts agree on this, however.

2)
Reports about the Chicago study and the curing effects of Remdesivir on the virus can be read in many media now; about 113 patients received the drug, and almost all of them could leave the hospital in less than a week (at least, that's how the story goes). Remdesivir was also used against Ebola. It is being tested at two Swedish hospitals as well, among 100 patients with varying degrees of sickness, and in Danish hospitals too.
link in Swedish https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/3JbbPd/lovande-signaler-om-ebolamedicin-mot-covid-19

[Mandryka]

According to Dansk Statistik, an official organ, there haven't been more deaths in Denmark since the first corona-death in the country 3.14.2020 than usual for the period.

Report in Danish:

https://nyheder.tv2.dk/2020-04-17-corona-ser-ikke-ud-til-at-give-flere-doedsfald-end-normalt

Yes I've come across this before, presumably due to less road traffic accidents and less deaths from other infectious deceases due to social distancing, hand washing etc.

[Kaga2]

Yes I've come across this before, presumably due to less road traffic accidents and less deaths from other infectious deceases due to social distancing, hand washing etc.

Starting before the virus got too bad. In Italy, Spain, New York the virus was far enough advanced to kill more than those measures saved.

[MusicTurner]

Wow!  I heard something recently on the news (I think that it was about kids being able to see their friends??) that kids (young ones anyway) will do what they would naturally do, not thinking about distancing, and go up to and hug their friends that they haven't seen in some time....which is a totally natural reaction.  I do wish you all the best and am hoping so hard that things don't 'go south' for your wonderful country and people.  It just seems way too early to me.   
(...)

All the best to you and please keep us up to date,
PD

I'll update on the situation in Denmark, though I know it is of limited interest to many.
Still the news might be symptomatic for a development, where the number of sick people is going down, at least for a period.

The opening up may be rolled back, if results coming in about 10 days from now show a major increase in infections etc.

1) yes, the opening of institutions for minors is very much debated here, and there has been some confusion. In reality, it seems that the current capacity at institutions is only half the normal one. Some parents in particular are against it, and there are dilemmas, such as whether children from homes with people in the risk group should join too; "no", it is now being said from the authorities. Likewise, the gatherings should take place in the open air as much as possible (we have some outdoor kindergartens already, so there is some routine in this) and social distancing and hygiene should be practised as much as possible.

Scientists seem to overall agree that this is about as gentle an opening one can get, for a start. But obviously, dealing with the children will in reality imply a lot of compromises and chaos, and be stressful for the pedagogues. There are suggestions that parents should be also paid for taking care of their children at home in stead, if possible.

2) as regards the newer initiative of opening up even further, yesterday evening's agreement was rather modest. Some smaller businesses are allowed to open, but should take special precautions. They include hairdressers and tattoo shops, driving schools, opticians, various therapists, spa-workers, and dentists.

3) Denmark hasn't had much capacity for testing, but it is working on increasing it. It was a part of yesterday's agreement, that a better mapping through testing should be implemented, including massive tests of health workers and other employees in important societal functions, for a start. A big series of tests for 20,000 hospital workers has just shown that the amount of virus was not above average among them, which is comforting: only 4 %. An earlier test among blood donors showed 3 %.

4) public transport: buses and trains should be running on a more normal basis from next week, as regards the schedules. But there are various regulations and recommendations promoting social distancing and a limited amount of passengers.

5) court procedures have largely been suspended, but will open again in late April.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Thanks for the update!   

PD

[mc ukrneal]

The quest for the origin of the virus continues...
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/coronavirus-outbreak-may-have-started-as-early-as-september-scientists-say/ar-BB12MPqU?ocid=msedgntp

[mc ukrneal]

Looks like we'll find out in 2-3 weeks how successful one of the drugs being tested is against the virus:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/remdesivir-covid-19-patients-recovering-quickly-after-getting-experimental-drug/ar-BB12KGlu?ocid=msedgntp

[JBS]

Protest against Michigan (USA) Governor Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home order.  Notice protestor with rifle.  The protest (another scheduled for next Wednesday) was organized by a Republican "shadow group" funded by the family of Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos.  The wealthy DeVos family controls the Michigan Republican Party.  Governor Whitmer is a Democrat.

I live in Michigan and despise the DeVos's, who made their fortune through a pyramid scheme, still active.

According to my Facebook stream, that was the better behaved group. Apparently there were others who effectively barricaded the ER entrance to Sparrow Hospital,  keeping out patients, ambulances, doctors, and other staff.

And Trump sends out tweets cheering these people on, although they're actually protesting the guidelines his administration issued yesterday.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

According to my Facebook stream, that was the better behaved group. Apparently there were others who effectively barricaded the ER entrance to Sparrow Hospital,  keeping out patients, ambulances, doctors, and other staff.

And Trump sends out tweets cheering these people on, although they're actually protesting the guidelines his administration issued yesterday.

Who 'did' and are the posters of this news trustworthy?  I'd like to think that this couldn't/wouldn't happen, but in these days and times, who knows?!  And, if so, where were the police?  And if true, were they arrested?  I honestly can't imagine people blocking the access to an ER; besides the virus and its possibly lethal effects, what if, for example, someone had had a heart attack...or a stroke...or something else that was life-threatening?

PD

[Kaga2]

According to my Facebook stream, that was the better behaved group. Apparently there were others who effectively barricaded the ER entrance to Sparrow Hospital,  keeping out patients, ambulances, doctors, and other staff.

And Trump sends out tweets cheering these people on, although they're actually protesting the guidelines his administration issued yesterday.

The organizers wanted everyone to stay in their vehicles. That would have been an effective protest against the over reach of her lockdown order, but getting out, mingling, no distance, just shows how many of them have no clue. And no clue about PR either. I am sympathetic to their goal (her order is extreme and confusing), but have zero sympathy for this kind of thing.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

The organizers wanted everyone to stay in their vehicles. That would have been an effective protest against the over reach of her lockdown order, but getting out, mingling, no distance, just shows how many of them have no clue. And no clue about PR either. I am sympathetic to their goal (her order is extreme and confusing), but have zero sympathy for this kind of thing.

Hi Kaga2,

Just curious as to what your sources and/or news were re the organizers?  Just trying to understand everything....

[Kaga2]

Hi Kaga2,

Just curious as to what your sources and/or news were re the organizers?  Just trying to understand everything....

In the report I read it said organizers tried to get people to stay in their vehicles. All I can recall. It makes sense though. A disciplined, restrained protest always makes an impression. Thousands of cars, no disruptions, then they leave — that's what I'd want if I tried to organize such a thing.

I didn't see hospital pictures, so I am skeptical about that. But this kind of irresponsible foolishness, we have pictures.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

In the report I read it said organizers tried to get people to stay in their vehicles. All I can recall. It makes sense though. A disciplined, restrained protest always makes an impression. Thousands of cars, no disruptions, then they leave — that's what I'd want if I tried to organize such a thing.

I didn't see hospital pictures, so I am skeptical about that. But this kind of irresponsible foolishness, we have pictures.

Hi, thanks for responding.

What was the report that you had read?  I do care about info and where it came from and also things like was that person actually there (think history and sources).

[Kaga2]

Hi, thanks for responding.

What was the report that you had read?  I do care about info and where it came from and also things like was that person actually there (think history and sources).

I don't recall which report I am afraid.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I don't recall which report I am afraid.

Think a bit (and I do mean this honestly and politely .....do check your sources...it really does matter...it's not easy to figure out...I do understand that).

Best to you,

PD